Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Merlit? Is Merlit safe for nursing mother and child? Does Merlit extracts into breast milk? Does Merlit has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Merlit influence milk supply or can Merlit decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Merlit lactation summary

Merlit is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Merlit is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Merlit is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Merlit does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Merlit safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Merlit usage in lactation

Short-acting Benzodiazepine drug. Excretion into breast milk is non-significant (Whitelaw 1981, Summerfield 1985 , Lemmer 2007). No harmful effects on breastfed infants have appeared at a normal dose (Kelly 2012). Unusual and low doses of benzodiazepine are compatible with breastfeeding. Use a short-acting benzodiazepine and minimal effective dose as possible mostly in neonatal period. Follow-up for sedation and feeding ability of the infant. Bed-sharing is not recommended for mothers who are taking this medication.

Answer by DrLact: About Merlit usage in lactation

Merlit has low levels in breastmilk, a short half-life relative to many other benzodiazepines, and is safely administered directly to infants. Evidence from nursing mothers indicates that Merlit does not cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants with usual maternal dosages. No special precautions are required.

Merlit Side Effects in Breastfeeding

The newborn infant of a mother taking 2.5 mg of Merlit orally twice daily for 5 days after delivery showed no signs of sedation.[2] In a telephone follow-up study, 124 mothers who took a benzodiazepine while nursing reported whether their infants had any signs of sedation. Sixty-four mothers took Merlit while breastfeeding and none reported sedation in her infant.[4]

Alternate Drugs

Midazolam(Safe)
Lorazepam(Safe)
Temazepam(Low Risk)
Meprobamate(Low Risk)
Diazepam(Low Risk)
Nitrazepam(Low Risk)
Quazepam(Unsafe)
Clorazepate(Low Risk)
Oxazepam(Safe)
Alprazolam(Low Risk)
Midazolam(Safe)
Clobazam(Low Risk)
Lorazepam(Safe)
Estazolam(Low Risk)
Flurazepam(Unsafe)
Temazepam(Low Risk)
Diazepam(Low Risk)
Nitrazepam(Low Risk)
Quazepam(Unsafe)
Clorazepate(Low Risk)
Clonazepam(Low Risk)
Oxazepam(Safe)
Alprazolam(Low Risk)
Alprazolam(Low Risk)
Ketamine(Low Risk)
Midazolam(Safe)
Chloral Hydrate(Low Risk)
Estazolam(Low Risk)
Zolpidem(Safe)
Zaleplon(Safe)
Flurazepam(Unsafe)
Lorazepam(Safe)
Triazolam(Low Risk)
Eszopiclone(Low Risk)
Sodium Oxybate(Low Risk)
Meprobamate(Low Risk)
Temazepam(Low Risk)
Diazepam(Low Risk)
Butalbital(Low Risk)
Nitrazepam(Low Risk)
Quazepam(Unsafe)
Butabarbital(Low Risk)
Clorazepate(Low Risk)
Phenobarbital(Low Risk)
Pentobarbital(Low Risk)
Secobarbital(Low Risk)
Oxazepam(Safe)
Propofol(Safe)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.